Determining what makes a product "green" is a complicated question. Many different factors come into play--a wide variety of environmental and health impacts are possible, and they occur at many different points within the life cycle of a product. The most significant points in the life cycle differ widely from product to product.

Environmental assessment has become a serious technical discipline with its own conventions and standards. Among the most important of these are contained in the International Standards Organisation’s ISO 14000 series: the systematic strategy used here is referred to as life-cycle assessment or LCA. A product or process is examined from cradle to grave--resource extraction, manufacture, use and disposal--considering all environmental and health issues. A green product has a low net impact over the whole life-cycle.

For the purposes of this initial stage of the Green Directory, where water and energy conservation systems are considered, the following general selection criteria for inclusion are used:

Where possible, products should be locally produced or use local materials and/or use local labour

Our concern is to minimise transport costs (to minimise greenhouse gas emissions), but also to play our part in encouraging the development of a strong local “green economy”.

Hence we include products manufactured or assembled in Saskatchewan, or which use building materials resourced here. Because of the small population of Saskatchewan and the relatively new introduction of alternative-to-fossil-fuel-energy technologies, the directory will include products not manufactured here but distributed by local companies already in the province.

Products should conserve natural resources

Products that eliminate or reduce the need for additional products or resources create efficiency benefits. This includes products created from recycled or salvaged content as well as products that are durable and therefore have low maintenance requirements (thereby eliminating or reducing the frequency on replacement). This also includes products with post-consumer recycled content and post-industrial recycled content, as both would qualify for inclusion based on their importance in diverting materials from landfills.

Products should, where possible, use alternatives to greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

For example, at the time of writing, CFCs and HCFCs (which deplete the ozone layer) have been effectively phased out from compression-cycle heat pumps and air conditioners - but for the most part they have been replaced by HFCs (such as R23 and R134a), which are potent greenhouse gases. Where possible, we wish to support the use of refrigerants which contribute to neither ozone depletion nor global warming.

Products should reduce pollution or waste operations, and should be produced in environmentally ethical ways

This includes products that limit or do not sustain dependence on fossil fuels or systems that significantly contribute to Climate Change through GHG emissions. Energy systems using renewable sources such as solar, wind and regeneration are emphasized. An example of products with environmental ethical standards is wood products that carry FSC ratings which indicates well-sustained forestry practices or systems that utilize recycled steel.

Equipment should be energy-efficient

Because of the commonplace availability of EnergyStar appliances, it would stand to reason not to list every outlet for these appliances. In some categories, however, SEN includes appliances with a higher energy performance threshold than EnergyStar.

Fixtures and equipment that conserve water are included

Conservation of water in a province such as Saskatchewan is extremely important. In keeping with the LEED water efficiency ratings, water efficient landscaping needs to be a reduction of 50% from average use. Criteria are given below for toilets, showers and faucets.

SEN reserves the right to modify selection criteria over time, if in the view of SEN it will result in greater fairness or greater clarification; or in response to improvements in technology.